Baidu, Inc. received the first-ever permits in China authorizing the company to provide driverless ride-hailing services to the public on open roads in Beijing. This regulatory approval marks a significant milestone for the autonomous ride-hailing industry in China, indicating a regulatory openness to taking a further step toward a fully driverless mobility future. With these permits issued by the head office of the Beijing High-level Automated Driving Demonstration Area (BJHAD), ten autonomous vehicles without drivers behind the steering wheel will offer rides to passengers in a designated area of 60 square kilometers in Beijing.

These licensed cars will join an existing fleet provided by Apollo Go, Baidu's autonomous ride-hailing service, in the capital city of China. Starting April 28, 2022. The new permit represents Beijing's collaborative and safety-first approach to autonomous vehicle regulation, progressing from the manned autonomous driving stage to the driverless stage.

It also represents a benchmark regulation for the global autonomous vehicle industry, given the complexity and high density of urban traffic in Beijing. Baidu's success in securing this regulatory permission can be attributed to its strong foundation in AI and its leading test-drive mileage.